BASINGSTOKE RFC have a must-win game on Saturday, when they travel to Hove for a London One South basement battle.

If ’Stoke are to get out of the bottom three and avoid relegation, then they surely have to beat Hove, who are currently the only side below them in the table.

When these sides met in November at Down Grange, a much changed home side raced to a 13-0 lead, only to end up losing 26-18.

’Stoke will be keen to gain revenge on Hove, who won their last home outing, beating Twickenham 23-14, but they lost 55-29 at promotion-chasing Sutton and Epsom last weekend.

At the same time, ’Stoke led visiting Charlton Park 22-20 after 55 minutes, but the visitors hit back to win the game 53-22.

However, there were plenty of positives to come out of the contest and Basingstoke RFC’s chairman of senior playing Steve Parker said: “It was another step forward for us and I felt we deserved the bonus-point try.

“We have improved in every game since I took over. The mood in the camp is good and the boys feel this is a winnable game.”

He added: “It is a must-win game for both teams and I just want us to go out and start as well as we did against Charlton Park, but carry it on for 80 minutes.

“I think we are capable of this and it is about time the hard work on the training ground is rewarded.”

’Stoke will be boosted with the return of Ollie John and Ben Hall, while David Byett has recovered from a knock he picked up in last weekend’s game.

However, captain and scrum-half Guy Wilkinson is unavailable, so Ben Hawkins will take his place.